An open, two-stage international competition proposal selected for implementation.

Attempts to decongest South Bombay, combined with the growth and development of the suburbs, necessitated a railway terminus at Kurla, a north-eastern suburb of the city. Moreover, the Konkan Railway was to be connected to the Kurla terminus.

The site can be accessed by road networks connecting the eastern suburbs, and with the construction of the Bandra-Kurla flyover under the Mumbai Urban Transportation Plan-II (MUTP-II), it will be directly linked to the western suburbs too. It can also be reached from the suburban railway system from Vidyavihar and Tilaknagar railway stations.

The 45.99-hectare site, when developed, will include the passenger terminal and commercial buildings to house shops, showrooms, offices, banks, medical facilities, galleries and pavilions. The air space above the rail tracks will be commercially developed to generate surpluses, which could be used to subsidize the cost of the railway terminal building and other developments.

We have proposed that the passenger terminal, commercial spaces and the yard and maintenance facilities should be considered as separate developments. Our proposal includes a Rail Maidan, which will incorporate various existing yard activities without any developments in and above it. This will allow natural light, ventilation and complete flexibility for alterations and renovations. An independent road has been planned to access the maidan directly.

The passenger terminus is three-tiered: the arrival level; an intermediate level with shopping and other facilities; and the departure level on top that connects to a lounge planned over the island platforms. This will decongest the platforms, and provide a more comfortable waiting and viewing area. From this lounge, several staircases and escalators will connect to the island platforms.

Arriving passengers will have to walk down from the island platforms to a number of subways leading to the arrival lounge, which is an atrium with shops, fast-food counters and waiting areas. From the atrium, the passengers will move to the pick-up concourse with independent loops and boarding modes for cars, taxis and autos.

Commercial development / streets and squares: At the heart of our planning concept for the commercial development of the terminus is a pedestrian ‘street’, interspersed with a variety of open spaces, such as malls and squares, that allow for exhibitions, street theatre shows, public gatherings and meetings. Landscaped squares will provide resting spaces amidst busy commercial activity.

On both sides of this street are shops, showrooms, restaurants and covered walkways. The street will culminate in a high-rise with a landscaped forecourt as a landmark building and a focal point of the design.

On two levels below the street, arrangements are made for vehicular movement, bulk parking and utilities.

Client: Central Railways.
Area: 95,000 sq. mt.
Estimatedcost: Rs.7500 lac.
Railway consultant: BARSYL.
Traffic consultant: Transport Planners Associates.
Design and construction: 1996- Design in association
with Design Action Group, Delhi.